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Dilla!

Times are nuts right now. I'm bouncing back and forth between pieces constantly, but I can't complain. I'm really enjoying all my projects!

Like this one. My good buddy Dustin took it upon himself to help completely re-design the great hip-hop magazine the FIND. So he asked me and a close group of illustration friends to help him with some illustrations. I was jazzed when he asked me to do a portrait of the late, great J-Dilla (along with the cover, which I will post soon). I am a big fan of Dilla's work, and later found out I used to cut grass across from his house, and even went to high school with his brother (now rapper Illa J)..small world!!

So I did a fairly straight ahead portrait, but to hopefully add some interest I put some heavy back lighting, inspired by an amazing painting of an angel by Howard Pyle. Since the image relies so heavily on the contrast being just right, I've noticed that it looks dark on certain monitors...sorry for that.

I also put up the work in progress layout Dustin and I are working on. I'll make sure to leave a post when the magazine is available!!